Article Tools

If you cruise through the 1100 block of De la Vina Street with any sort of regularity, chances are you’ve heard about the Rockshop. On any given afternoon, the little building behind what used to be Mike’s Drum Shop is bustling with activity — not to mention a whole lot of noise. For the past four years, Dishwalla drummer George Pendergast has been using the space to house his very own school of rock, complete with after-school and summer-camp programs, and a performance space that rivals most of downtown’s live music joints. This Saturday, October 13, the Rockshop celebrates its newly minted nonprof status with an end-of-the-summer fest at Rancho Dos Pueblos. The daylong music fest known as Rockstock features a stacked bill of Rockshop students, alumni, and helping hands, including a headlining set by Dishwalla. Below, we run down just a few of the many reasons to head out and celebrate. For more info and tickets, call 962-1211 or visit dishwalla.eventbrite.com.

1) The Bands: What better way to celebrate a new chapter than to let the kids take the reins? In addition to full sets from Dishwalla, Alastair Greene, and Rockshop alums False Puppet, Rockstock 2012 boasts performances by rising S.B. rockers The Wha Wha’s, Technical Difficulties, 50 Below, Official Breakdown, The Caverns, Stolen Thunder, White Moon, and 2012’s Rockshop Academy summer-session grads.

2) The Kids: For Dishwalla, the heart of the Rockshop belongs to the kids, and its role in the music community is vital. “Having a place to play was part of the problem for us growing up,” explained Dishwalla guitarist Rodney Cravens. “You can be amazing on your instrument but still not know what to do, how to be better in a band. That’s the bootcamp we’re trying to put them through — kinda like what was done to us when we got our major record deal.”

3) The Setting: Nestled just 15 minutes north of Santa Barbara, Rancho Dos Pueblos is one of the South Coast’s best-kept secrets and is filled with some of the most stunning views in the area. Come Saturday, Rockstock 2012 will storm the ranch barn for an indoor/outdoor event filled with music, food, drinks, and some pretty sweet raffle shwag.

4) The Future: Accordingly, the money Rockstock brings in gets filtered right back into the academy, which Pendergast is looking to expand into the old drum shop in the coming months. “The main goal is for this place [the Rockshop] to be open,” he said. “I want kids to be able to just come down without having to have a membership. It will just be here, and they can come play.”